Eurovision: UK's chequered history

The UK has endured a chequered Eurovision history, from Cliff Richard's narrow
defeats to Jemini's disastrous nil points. Here is a look back at the highs
and lows:

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:: Nil points were the buzzwords from the 2003 contest. The United Kingdom's dismal entry Cry Baby by Jemini was the first UK song in Eurovision history that failed to score. The group blamed audio problems for the awful performance. Photo: BBC

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Cliff Richard narrowly missed out on the 1968 Eurovision crown after his song Congratulations came second to Spain's entry La, La, La by Massiel. It was the first contest to be broadcast in colour. Photo: REX

9:30AM GMT 02 Mar 2012

:: The UK's first appearance in the Eurovision Song Contest was in 1957 with the song All by Patricia Bredin. It finished in seventh place, with the Netherlands entry Net Als Toen by Corry Brokken winning.

:: After five second-place finishes, the UK won its first Eurovision song contest in 1967 with Sandie Shaw's Puppet On A String. The late 1960s would prove to be a golden era for the UK.

:: Cliff Richard narrowly missed out on the 1968 Eurovision crown after his song Congratulations came second to Spain's entry La, La, La by Massiel. It was the first contest to be broadcast in colour.

:: Boom Bang-A-Bang by Lulu jointly won the 1969 competition alongside the French, Spanish and Dutch entries. It was the first time the outcome was tied, and all four countries were declared winners.

:: Cliff Richard tried to avenge his 1968 defeat by competing in the 1973 contest with the song Power To All Our Friends. He came third.

:: After six barren years, Brotherhood of Man's song Save Your Kisses For Me won the 1976 contest. The record went on to sell six million copies, making it the biggest-selling Eurovision winner ever.

:: The 1981 competition produced one of the UK's best-known Eurovision performances with Bucks Fizz's Making Your Mind Up. The skirt-ripping dance routine is one of the most famous in the contest's history.

:: EastEnders actress Samantha Janus was the UK's entry in 1991 with the song A Message To Your Heart. Trying to end the UK's nine-year wait for Eurovision glory, the song finished a disappointing 10th.

:: Despite the best efforts of Michael Ball (1992) and Sonia (1993), who both came second, the UK's next winner was in 1997. Katrina and The Waves' song Love Shine A Light won in Dublin. The UK has not won since.

:: Nil points were the buzzwords from the 2003 contest. The United Kingdom's dismal entry Cry Baby by Jemini was the first UK song in Eurovision history that failed to score. The group blamed audio problems for the awful performance.

:: The five competitions after Jemini were all disastrous, with acts such as Javine, Scooch and Daz Sampson all failing to bring back any pride to the UK.

:: Eurovision veteran Terry Wogan hung up his mic in 2008 after Andy Abraham's song Even If came 25th. Upset by the tactical voting that has become all too common in the contest, the Irishman stepped down and was replaced by comedian Graham Norton.

:: Josh Dubovie suffered the humiliation of coming last in 2010's contest after his performance of That Sounds Good To Me failed to win over the public or national juries. The 19-year-old from Basildon, Essex, scored a miserable 10 points.

:: Blue's entry last year was called I Can, but when it came to the crunch, it turned out they could not. The reformed boyband finished in 11th place, thwarting the UK's hopes for its first victory since 1997.